Autumn

It’s fall, it's autumn! It doesn’t look like it here in Florida though! I’m beginning to do a little fall decorating. This is the new door décor I added this week.

Our front entryway has a courtyard with an arbor above it.

The fuschia bouganvillia is blooming!
It froze back the past two winters and isn't as lush as usual.

I don't usually talk about my private life, but I want to talk about what’s been going on in my life the past few months. “The Autumn of My Life” came to mind. I googled to see exactly what this means. Answers.com gives this answer:

What is the Autumn of my life?

"Autumn of My Life" refers to the last portion of one's life. It is a metaphor which likens one's life to the season when the time for planting, growing, and flowering is over, when the temperatures begin to drop, and the days become shorter. The leaves on the trees drop, and the natural world edges toward dormancy. It is the time when one's death is closer than one's birth.

Since my big milestone birthday I’ve been thinking more and more of my mortality. Entering into another chapter of my life with this milestone birthday has prompted many thoughts of mortality. Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ and know He gives eternal life! Nothing brings about more thoughts of mortality than adding on another decade! Well, maybe something else does – attending more and more funerals of family and friends. Joe’s sister died last January, and we’ve had friends die recently.

Two months ago our neighbor, across the street, died. He was 85 and had been ill for a while, he was also a Christian and went to be with the Lord. The shocking and sad news is that his wife also just died suddenly, only two months after he died. She was only 74. Also shocking is that this is the eight death we have had on this street since we moved here, almost ten years ago! It’s a long street, but that is still a lot of people!

Another thing that bothered me about our neighbors deaths is this: They had no children and her sister and nephew who live out of state are handling the estate. When they were here after her funeral they purged her house and there was a wall of big boxes on the curb for the garbage! It was like seeing her whole life going to the dump!! This bothered me so much. I know there’s plenty in the bible about material things, and treasures being in Heaven, but this really bothered me and I’ve been trying to sort it out. Please don’t judge me on this!

I feel the Lord is leading me into something new in this new chapter of my life. I’m not sure yet what, and I’m trying to be open to whatever He has for me. I’m praying for guidance. I have curtailed my schedule to have more time. My husband and I are spending more time together than ever and enjoying each other’s company. We have a quiet ministry together with helping people at our church, just little things such as giving rides, taking them to the grocery store, and taking them a meal. We also work in the church kitchen for the youth group.

I’ve prayed about how much time to spend on my blog, whether to continue or not. I don’t post as often as I used too. I’m not sure if I have many people reading my blog anymore, even though I have over 160 Followers!

The meme’s are getting so big, it’s impossible to get around to everybody. It seems fewer people are leaving comments, except for the “big popular bloggers” who get 50 or more comments. I wouldn’t be able to handle all those replies to them though. It does bother me that some bloggers only comment on their “favorite” popular people, even the ones who get so many comments they don’t/can’t return the comment. I feel badly for the new bloggers just getting started, some don’t get any comments. I sometimes think I will stop posting on my blog and just become a lurker, looking at blogs, but not making comments!!

I still have the desire to continue the tablescapes and tabletops as these both give me an outlet to use my God- given creativity. I don’t spend much money on these hobbies, as the most fun is using what I have already, and shopping my own house! I still have the desire, but I’m open to what the Lord desires for me.

I’ve also been in a lot of physical pain this past year, I don’t blog about it as my blog is to be a happy place without complaints. I have recently been diagnosed with bursitis in both hips, this has curtailed our activities a lot. The doctor treated me with steroid shots and physical therapy. I’m hoping and praying it will get better soon!

Well, I don’t know if you have stayed with me this long, and if you have I thank you for listening! I ask for your prayers as well!

Our front door welcomes all our friends and family!

Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

God Bless.

Katherine

P.S. - I’ve been planning to add a new profile picture since my birthday last May. This one was taken at one of my birthday lunches. Notice I have purple on – remember the “When I am old I shall wear purple” poem?